Tag Archives: Nintendo

You see this? This isn’t normal. The parents of these kids shouldn’t have let this happen.

We’ve all been there: our parents wouldn’t let us watch a movie because we were “too young” for it. We were told things like, “It’ll make you more violent” or, “You have plenty of time to grow up. Watch it when you’re older.” We’d stomp and get mad, maybe even throw a tantrum. But no matter what, our parents would stick firm to their beliefs and say we couldn’t watch that movie.

Games are very much the same way. Some games are clearly meant for older players, while others can be enjoyed by just about anybody. Logically, parents would act the same way and shield us from mature games while we’re younger, right?

Nope.

It seems like too many parents have no idea what kind of games their little angels are playing. Then we have the exact opposite, where some parents are far too strict, thinking their children can only play the most non-violent and kid-friendly games. The point is, most parents can’t parent properly as soon as video games are involved.

I’m going to fix that. Here are some obvious things to help you figure out whether little Jimmy should be playing Super Mario’s Family-Friendly Playground Fun or Grizzled Space Marine Who Shoots Aliens and Swears A Lot. If you’re a parent, this is REQUIRED READING

Games can now tell a story on par with your average film. Okay, that’s not saying much, but the medium has certainly come a long way since its humble roots. There is now a focus on delivering not only fun gameplay but also a deep and layered story. Sometimes the gameplay drives the game, its fun mechanics enticing gamers to play “just one more level.” Other times the story drives the game, its complex characters and plot drawing players in to play “until the next cutscene.”

Film writers are now getting in on the action. David S. Goyer, famous for helping write the Dark Knight trilogy and the latest Superman film Man of Steel, helped give the Call of Duty series a decent story in the two Black Ops installments. Book of Eli writer Gary Whitta is one of several people who brought the world of the Walking Dead to the video game world. And the list of screenwriters-turned-video game writers keeps growing.

This week’s top stories include Microsoft’s big policy change, Sony’s PlayStation 3 blunder, and a gaming demographic proven to be more than just a fringe group. All that and more in the News of the Week.

Question of the Week: what is your favourite video game soundtrack? Comment below or Tweet me your answers.

Music used in this week’s presentation is “Back to Jungle Japes” by Nintendo from the Super Smash Bros Brawl soundtrack.

If the link to the show doesn’t work, please let me know by Tweeting me or commenting below. Same goes for any previous shows if you happen to check them out. I want to make sure everything works. Thank you!

Some games are truly challenging. They may require quick reflexes, swift logic, or knowing when to make the right move. They offer a great sense of accomplishment to gamers who can succeed in beating them.

Then there are games whose main challenges stem from their numerous technical problems, cheating artificial intelligence, or trial-and-error sequences. And these are some games I hate.

This edition of News of the Week won’t have the regular audio slideshow. I was unable to put everything together in time. I apologize. I feel everything should be back to normal starting next Tuesday with the article on artificial difficulty. I should have a regular audio slideshow for next week’s edition as well. In case you were interested, here is the script for today’s show. Sorry again and I hope to have everything back to normal next week.

This week’s top stories include the upcoming Electronic Entertainment Expo, Microsoft clarifying certain Xbox One rumours, and a new voice actor for the next Metal Gear Solid game. All that and more in the News of the Week.

Question of the Week: what excites you the most about E3? Comment below or Tweet me your answers.

Music used in this week’s presentation is “The Enemy of my Enemy is my Friend” by Hans Zimmer and Lorne Balfe from the Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 soundtrack.

If the link to the show doesn’t work, please let me know by Tweeting me or commenting below. Same goes for any previous shows if you happen to check them out. I want to make sure everything works. Thank you!

I’m trying a new format. Instead of just me talking over generic homemade background music, I at least have some pictures using Soundslides. As always, comment below or Tweet me feedback or answers to the question of the week.